By Matsobane Manaka
MEC Nandi Ndalane, flanked by from left: Masaka Mabilo: Director for Agricultural Advisory Services, Jethro Nowata: Chief Director
for Agriculture Development & Farmer Support and Melidah Makwaana: Director for Extension Services at the official opening of Capacity
Building Session for Female Entrepreneur in Agriculture at Karibu Leisure Resort, Tzaneen
Women are often overlooked in various industries in the country where one woman in every seven men is employed in mining, one in every six men is employed in construction and one woman for every three men employed in agriculture, thus according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The statistics further revealed the shocking female unemployment rate that stands at 37,3 per cent.
These statistics paint a bleak picture about the women of our country and province, said MEC responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms. Nandi Ndalane.
Ndalane applauded Female Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (FEA) for confronting these bleak statistics by continuing with production in their different enterprises during these difficult economic times.
“It is you who refuse to be victims of unemployment but faced the difficulties and chose the less travelled path of being an entrepreneur. As government, we are proud of people such as you who choose to confront the economic hardships and become entrepreneurs. We realise that is it not easy. We know that it is a tough journey and a lonely journey and the fact that you have made it this far in our view this is a major accomplishment”.
MEC Nandi Ndalane applauds women in agriculture who continue to produce food
despite being confronted with economic hardships
MEC Ndalane and Jethro Nowata (Chief Director: Agriculture Development & Farmer Support) engage with food
processor during walk-about at farmers exhibition stalls
Ndalane acknowledges the challenges women in enterprises are facing such as access to finance, market and land as well as lack of sufficient training and education. But committed, within limited resources, to support women in agriculture. She noted further that the important role women play in feeding the nation becomes part of “our mandate as government which is food security and creation of employment”.
The three-day FEA capacity building session held at Karibu Leisure Resort, Tzaneen, formed part of the Department’s women month empowerment activities.
